*Z33 


Duke  University   Libraries 

Special  instruc 
Conf  Pam  12mo  #233 


DTT153TE7E 


STATE    OF     GEORGIA,         ^ 

Ad.tt.  &  Ixsp.  General's  Office,    > 

Milledgeville,  Dec.  29th,  1S63.  ) 

Special    Instructions   to    Surgeons. 

Sir:  The  Ibllowing  instructions  are  published  for  the 
ijuidance  of  Surgeons  appointed  for  the  Senatorial  Dis- 
tricts under  the  15th  Section  of  the  Act  of  December  14tli 
1 SG3,  "re-organizing  the  Militia :" 

T..  .In  your  examination  of  persons,  you  must  exercise  a 
sound  and  firm  discretion  and  not  yield  yonr  judgmenii  in 
favor  of  every  complaint  of  trivial  disability,  by  attaching 
too  much  importance  to  which,  they  indirectly  favor  eva- 
sions of  the  required  military  service. 

II..  .As  a  general  rule,  it  may  be  received,  that  where  an 
individual  is  equal  to  all  the  active  duties  of  the  various 
occupations  of  civil  life,  he  is  able  to  discharge  the  duties 
of  a  soldier. 

III..  .The  following  are  some  of  the  grounds  not  deemed 
sufficient  and  satisfactory  for  exemption. 

1.  General  Debiliiy. — The  grades  of  this  condition  are 
numerous,  and  in  receiving  them  all  as  grounds  for  exemp- 
tion, you  can  not  be  considered  as  discharging  your  duty 
to  the  State.  In  arriving  at  a  correct  judgment  upon  this 
point,  you  will  be  aided  by  the  consideration,  that  obser- 
vation has  by  no  means  established  that  a  so  called  high 
standard  of  health  is  best  adapted  to  encounter  the  expo- 
sures of  military  life,  such  physical  condition  being  espe- 
cially liable  to  disease  ;  while  health  of  a  lower  grade, 
without  any  co-existing  positive  disease,  is  ^  frequently 
strengthened  and  improved  by  the  exposures  incident  to 
the  life  of  a  soldier. 

2.  Incase  of  slight  deformity,  natural  or  the  result  of  ac- 
cident and  irregular  union  of  fractures,  unless  material  im- 
pairment of  power  and  motion  results  from  such  deformity, 
the  individual  ;uust  be  Ijeld  liable  for  military  service. 


3»^X 


0.  Df^Jncss. — This  is  not  .1  valiil  rrasoii  lor  oxemption 
unless  excessive,  and  the  fact  of  its  exisieiice  must  bi'  well 
established. 

4.  Imj>edinunt  ff  Speech. — Unless  of  a  very  aggravated 
character,  is  not  a  valid  reason  for  exemption. 

5.  Hoirt  Disc/isr,  {inirnnic.) — Orixanic  disease  of  the  heart 
being  comparatively  iufrt-qucnt,  ilie  physical  and  rational 
siffns  should  be  scrutinized  with  great  care,  and  the  subject 
of  examination  should  not  be  excused  unless  the  case  is 
satisfactorily  established. 

G.  Functional  Disturbance  of  the  Heart's  action. — This  is 
very  common,  not  a  valid  ground  for  exempt io*i,  and  is  gen- 
erally relieved  by  camp  life. 

7.  Rhfumatistn. — The  kind  should  be  designated,  wheth- 
er acute  or  chronic,  articular  or  muscular.  It  is  a  com- 
plaint liable  to  be  used  as  a  means  of  evasion.  When  it  is 
simply  muscular  without  swelling  or  contraction  of  joints, 
and  the  general  health  of  the  individual  is  otherwise  sound, 
he  should  be  held  liable  to  military  service. 

8.  Epilqwj. — This  disease  being  frequently  simulated,  so 
as  to  impose  upon  a  careless  observer,  nothing  less  than 
the  observation  of  an  actual  paroxysm,  or  the  allidavit  of  a 
responsible  physician  acquainted  with  the  individual  should 
be  deemed  satisfactory. 

9.  Varicocele. — Not  a  ground  for  exemption,  unless  ex- 
cessive. 

10.  Myopia. — Not  a  ground  for  exemption.  Many  my- 
opic subjects  distinguish  objects  with  accuracy  sufficient 
for  all  practical  purposes. 

11.  Hemorrhoids. — As  many  individuals  in  civil  life  sub- 
jects of  this  disorder,  are  engaged  in  active  occupations, 
they  should  not  unless  excessive,  be  considered  satisfactory 
grounds  for  exemption. 

12.  Loss  of  one  Eye. — Not  valid  ground  lor  exemp- 
tion. 

13.  The  loss  •foTie  or  two  fingers. — Not  sufficient  ground 
for  exemption. 

14.  Single  Reducible  Hernia. — Not  a  valid  reason  for  ex- 
emption. 

15.  Urethral  Strtricture. — Not  as  a  general  rule  proper 
cause  for  exemption.  Many  thus  effected,  perform  all  the 
ordinary  duties  of  life,  and  on  this  ground  should  be  en- 
rolled. 

16.  The  mere  deterhiiuation  and  announcement  of  the 
existence  of  such  diseases  as  scrofula,  hepatitis,  spinal  irri- 
tation and  cachexia,  do  not  warrant  exemption;  their  spe- 
cial seat,  degree  of  development,  and  the  consequent  dis- 
qualifying condition,  as  well  as  the  general  state  of  the  sys- 
tem, must  be  dij^cerned  and  intelligibly  reported. 


17.  Ill  cases  of  atrophy  of  the  limbs,  definite  and  satis- 
factory explanations  must  be  made  as  to  its  cause,  extent, 
and  the  accompanying  loss  of  power. 

18.  In  tuberculosis,  the  extent  of  the  disease  should,  as 
far  as  practicable,  be  diagnosed,  and  full  statements  made 
as  to  the  loss  of  flesh,  and   other  prominent  symptoms. 

19.  Very  many  dyspeptics  are  benefited,  if  not  entirely 
relieved  by  the  change  of  life,  and  the  active  duties  of  a 
soldier  in  the  field.  Dyspepsia,  therefore,  unless  of  an  ex- 
tremely aggravated  character,  and  accompanied  with 
much  emaciation  and  debility,  is  not  accepted  as  authority 
for  exemption. 

20.  Whenever  discernable,  in  all  cases  not  accepted,  the 
degree  or  extent,  and  the  seat  and  duration  of  the  existing 
disability  should  be  distinctly  set  forth. 

21.  If  individuals  appearing  before  the  board  do  not 
then  present  perfectly  satisfactory  evidence  of  the  complaint 
for  which  exemption  is  claimed,  they  should  be  enrolled 

By  order  of  the  Commander-in-Chief: 

HENRY  C.  WAYNE, 
Adjutant  «&  Inspector  General. 


jj^  mo 


Hollinger  Corp. 
pH  8.5 


